Baillieu government rules out koranic courts

The Baillieu government has ruled out introducing koranic courts similar to the Koori courts for Aboriginal offenders, despite growing support from the Muslim community.

A spokesman for Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark rejected the proposal put forward by the president of the state's Somali community, which has also been dismissed by lawyers.

The government's refusal came as Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Ikebal Patel said the suggestion of a koranic court "absolutely" fitted with a call he made earlier this year for legal pluralism.